What SLB services does

SLBdiensten is a Dutch ICT intermediary founded in 1992 that aggregates software licensing demand from secondary (VO) and vocational (MBO) educational institutions in the Netherlands. The company negotiates collective purchasing agreements with major software vendors — including Microsoft, Adobe, AvePoint, Zivver, Trimble/SketchUp, Gamma Communications, Dugga, TOPdesk, Ekco, and Barracuda — and resells licenses to schools, claiming that "nearly all Dutch educational institutions" procure software through its agreements. It operates under the QSBN collective as parent and runs a consumer-facing sub-brand called Slim (slim.nl), which sells discounted Adobe and Microsoft software directly to students and staff of member institutions.

The product portfolio is organized as a channel aggregator with ancillary services. Core licensed products include Microsoft 365 suites (A1/A3/A5), Adobe Fixed Price Creative Cloud, Zivver (secure email with ML-based error prevention), AvePoint Cloud Backup, SketchUp Pro/Studio, TOPdesk ESM (three tiers), Dugga Digital Assessment, Gamma Teams Operator Connect telephony, iBabs paperless meetings, Veeam/Ekco backup, and the CSAT cyber security assessment tool from QS Solutions. Adjacent offerings include Microsoft 365 Copilot deployment support, Microsoft Purview data classification consulting, training and certification, the Kenniskring ICT & Onderwijs knowledge network, and a newly introduced Agentic AI Assistant called Chatmate SLB that runs tenant-native within customer Azure/Entra environments.

Revenue mechanics combine a 4% administrative fee on license amounts (with per-license-year minimums of €75 for VO and €175 for non-VO) and margins on resold software licenses, structured as annual subscriptions or per-seat billing. The Slim webshop adds a transactional consumer revenue stream. Distribution is direct sales to institutions via account managers and a customer portal (MijnSLBdiensten), with education-sector marketing through newsletters, webinars, and content. The company is privately held, has 1–10 employees, and discloses no funding rounds, M&A, or independent financials.

Name

SLB services

Legal name

SLBdiensten

Website

https://slbdiensten.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SLBdiensten is a Dutch ICT intermediary founded in 1992 that aggregates software licensing demand from nearly all secondary (VO) and vocational (MBO) educational institutions in the Netherlands, reselling licenses from Microsoft, Adobe, and other vendors under collective purchasing agreements, and operating the Slim consumer webshop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Software Licensing Intermediation: SLBdiensten generates revenue by acting as an intermediary between software vendors and educational institutions. They negotiate group purchasing agreements and earn revenue through administrative fees and margins on software licenses sold to member institutions.
2. Administrative Fees: Administrative fees are charged at 4% of the license amount with a minimum of €75.00 for VO institutions and €175.00 for non-VO institutions per license year.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SLBdiensten is an intermediary and collective purchasing organization that negotiates group software licensing agreements between major vendors (Microsoft, Adobe, Trimble, AvePoint, Zivver, TOPdesk, Dugga, etc.) and Dutch secondary (VO) and vocational (MBO) educational institutions. It charges a 4% administrative fee on license amounts and earns margins on resold software, while also offering procurement support, training, the Slim webshop, and AI/security advisory services.

Product overview

SLBdiensten is an ICT intermediary for VO and MBO education in the Netherlands, acting as a software aggregator and partner manager. Its product portfolio is organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture, with core licensed software products complemented by AI tools, security assessments, training, and a dedicated student/staff webshop called Slim. Core products include Zivver (secure email with ML-based error prevention), iBabs (paperless meeting management), SketchUp / SketchUp Studio (3D design software from Trimble), Microsoft Teams Operator Connect via Gamma Communications (telephony in Teams), AvePoint Cloud Backup (backup for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace), Dugga Digital Assessment (all-in-one testing platform with AI question generation), TOPdesk ESM software (service management in three tiers), Veeam/Ekco backup solutions, and CSAT (cyber security assessment). AI capabilities are delivered through Zivver's ML error prevention, Dugga's AI Exam Engine, Chatmate SLB (Agentic AI Assistant), Microsoft 365 Copilot support, and Microsoft Purview data classification. Security is supported through CSAT assessments, Barracuda Networks, Ekco XDR/MDR, and AvePoint. The Slim sub-brand handles retail software sales (Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft) for students and staff at education discounts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Slim: Webshop for students and employees in education to purchase Adobe and Microsoft software with educational discounts.

Products and services

• Zivver User-friendly secure email solution integrated into Outlook, Office 365, and Gmail; uses advanced encryption, multi-factor authentication, and machine learning to prevent sending sensitive data to wrong recipients, supports file transfer up to 5TB and digital signatures. Sold per employee license for educational institutions.
• iBabs Environmentally friendly paperless meeting application that allows users to manage all meeting documents, notes, agendas, actions, and decision lists from a tablet or laptop. Targeted at educational institution boards and management.
• SketchUp (Pro Educatieve Netwerklicentie and Studio) User-friendly 3D design software for architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and product developers, and educational use through SketchUp for Schools. Includes SketchUp Pro educational network licenses (concurrent-use, e.g. 40 simultaneous users across 80 computers) and SketchUp Studio (Pro plus V-Ray, Trimble Scan Essentials, Revit Importer).
• Gamma Teams Operator Connect Telephony integration directly within Microsoft Teams, providing the simplest way to add phone capabilities to Teams for educational institutions. Sold under SLBdiensten's negotiated education pricing.
• AvePoint Cloud Backup Automated encrypted backups (up to 4x per day, 100% data retention for a year) for Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Dynamics 365, and Salesforce. Includes discovery, migration, content management, on-demand restore, and security roll-back capabilities.
• Dugga Digital Assessment All-in-one digital testing platform for VO, MBO, HBO, and Universities; allows teachers to create, administer, and grade tests, exams, and quizzes. Features include an AI Exam Engine that creates questions within 10 seconds, lockdown options (SEB, Respondus), plagiarism analysis, and shuffle functionality. License year runs May 1 to April 30 with first-year 50% discount.
• Cyber Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) by QS Solutions Provides insight into the security posture of an institution's IT environment; collects and analyzes data from hybrid IT environments, integrating with Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender. Offers fact-based recommendations per the Center for Internet Security (CIS) framework or Normenkader IBP, with detailed reports, management presentations, and Power BI dashboards. Available as one-time assessment or annual subscriptions.
• Chatmate SLB Agentic AI Assistant developed to support schools and institutions with IT questions and information about SLBdiensten services, available 24/7. Runs fully tenant-native within the customer's Azure and Entra environment; data remains within the tenant and is not used for AI training. Integrates with TOPdesk and supports responsible AI deployment per AVG and Normenkader IBP. Currently being expanded to handle institution-specific questions and order-related queries.
• TOPdesk Enterprise Service Management Enterprise Service Management (ESM) software for educational institutions in three tiers: Essential (Service Management, Asset Management, Self-Service Portal, Knowledgebase, Reporting); Engaged (adds Change Management, Problem Management, Service Level Management, Operational Management); Excellent (adds Project Management, Webshop, 24/7 support, annual health check, uptime guarantee). Licensed per number of users/agents with a 4% administrative fee on the license amount.
• Veeam Server back-up (Ekco) Enables secure backup with Veeam Cloud Connect, supporting both local and cloud backups for VMware, Hyper-V, and physical servers. Offers immutable storage against ransomware and meets the 3-2-1-1 backup rule. Includes 500GB storage per server.
• Ekco MS 365 back-up Protects all Microsoft 365 data (email, SharePoint, OneDrive for Business, Teams). Available in two versions: staff only, or staff and students with free accounts for students. Annual license per employee with 5% discount on 36-month licenses.
• Microsoft Licenties SLBdiensten offers Microsoft software licenses including Office 365 A1, A3, and A5 for educational institutions with special negotiated pricing. Microsoft 365 Copilot is also available with a completed DPIA to support responsible deployment.
• Adobe Fixed Price Licentie Fixed-price Adobe Creative Cloud license for institutions that allows installation on all school computers for both staff and students, plus a Slim webshop channel for individual staff/student licenses.
• Trainen & Certificeren Training and certification services covering products in the SLBdiensten portfolio, including SketchUp courses for beginners and intermediate users. VMBO teachers receive a discount via bijscholingvmbo.nl.
• Barracuda Networks security Barracuda Networks provides powerful security solutions suitable for large educational institutions while offering ease of use and affordability for smaller institutions. Includes email protection, network security, and application security.
• LastPass password management Password management solution providing secure credential storage and management for educational institution staff and students.
• AvePoint Provides solutions for migrating, managing, and protecting institutional data, including Cloud Backup for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. AvePoint is a four-time Microsoft Partner of the Year, used by more than 16,000 organizations and 6 million Microsoft 365 users worldwide.
• Slim webshop Dedicated webshop for students and staff in VO and MBO education to purchase Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft software at special education discounts. Orders are delivered digitally with immediate download access. Operates under the Breens Network.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly all Dutch educational institutions use SLBdiensten agreements for software procurement
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration19 records

AI capability10 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• MicrosoftcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor software vendor providing Microsoft 365, Teams, and related education products. SLBdiensten serves as a primary reseller of Microsoft licenses to Dutch educational institutions, offering special education pricing through group agreements.
• AdobecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdobe provides Creative Cloud and other software for education through SLBdiensten's Fixed Price licensing program. SLBdiensten offers both institutional licenses and individual licenses through Slim webshop.
• AvePointmajorTechnology or IntegrationAvePoint provides cloud backup solutions for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. SLBdiensten resells AvePoint Cloud Backup to educational institutions, offering automated backup and recovery services.
• Barracuda NetworksmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBarracuda provides security solutions suitable for educational institutions of all sizes. SLBdiensten offers Barracuda security products as part of their ICT security portfolio for schools.
• ZivvermajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZivver provides secure email and file transfer solutions. SLBdiensten resells Zivver accounts to educational institutions, offering secure communication compliant with GDPR and Dutch regulations.
• SIVONmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIVON reviews and validates processor agreements (verwerkersovereenkomsten) for vendors like Zivver to ensure legal compliance with Dutch education requirements, reducing risk for member institutions.
• Gamma CommunicationsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGamma provides Microsoft Teams Operator Connect telephony solutions for education. SLBdiensten offers Gamma's Teams telephony integration, enabling schools to add phone capabilities to Microsoft Teams.
• DuggamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDugga provides digital assessment and examination platforms for VO, MBO, HBO, and universities. SLBdiensten resells Dugga Digital Assessment with Microsoft Teams, Google, and Office 365 integration.
• Trimble (SketchUp)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrimble provides SketchUp 3D design software for education. SLBdiensten offers SketchUp Pro educational network licenses and SketchUp Studio for teachers, with special pricing for VMBO teachers.
• KoorenhuisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution in The Hague that provides instructors for Digital Science talent programs at Lyceum Ypenburg, developing curriculum for creative software education.
• Fonds 1818minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFund that provided grant funding to develop the Digital Science talent program curriculum at Lyceum Ypenburg using Adobe software.
• Ekco NederlandmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEkco provides cloud services including Microsoft 365 backup, Veeam backup solutions, and security services (XDR/MDR). SLBdiensten resells Ekco's backup and security solutions to educational institutions.
• QS solutionsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorQS solutions provides the Cyber Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) for educational institutions. SLBdiensten resells CSAT to help schools assess their cybersecurity posture and comply with Normenkader IBP.
• TOPdeskmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTOPdesk provides Enterprise Service Management software. SLBdiensten resells TOPdesk Essential, Engaged, and Excellent packages to educational institutions for service management and self-service portals.
• QSBNcoreOthersQSBN is the ICT collective that owns SLBdiensten. With over 30 years of experience, QSBN uses Microsoft technology to create balance between technological growth and work environment. SLBdiensten is part of this collective.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CDW: CDW is a large US-headquartered IT solutions provider with a substantial K-12 and higher-education practice covering hardware, software licensing, and services. Comparable as a multi-vendor IT procurement partner for education, but operating at much larger scale and broader scope.
• SHI International: SHI is one of the largest software licensing resellers globally with deep education and public-sector verticals. Comparable in licensing aggregation model and Microsoft/Adobe partnerships, but operating across multiple sectors and geographies.
• Softcat: Softcat is a major UK IT infrastructure and licensing reseller serving enterprise and public-sector customers including education. Comparable as a broad IT licensing and procurement partner, though not specialized solely in education.
• Insight Enterprises: Insight is a global IT solutions and services provider with significant education-sector presence, reselling Microsoft, Adobe, and infrastructure software to schools and districts. Comparable in vendor portfolio and customer base, but at global enterprise scale rather than country-niche focus.

Direct peers

• Bytes Software Services: Bytes is a UK-based specialist software licensing aggregator with a strong education vertical, reselling Microsoft, Adobe, and other enterprise software to schools and universities. Closely analogous business model to SLBdiensten in a different geography.
• SURF: SURF is the Dutch cooperative for ICT in higher education and research, aggregating demand and negotiating collective agreements for member institutions. Comparable to SLBdiensten in operating model and customer base, but serving higher education and research rather than VO/MBO.
• SIVON: SIVON is a Dutch cooperative for K-12 and vocational education focused on procurement and processor-agreement validation, explicitly named as a current SLBdiensten partner. Directly comparable as a Dutch-education GPO, though with a narrower focus on legal/compliance validation.
• Breens Network: Breens Network is the parent of the Slim webshop referenced in SLBdiensten's materials and operates in Dutch education software distribution. Comparable as a Dutch education-focused IT services and licensing partner with overlapping vendor relationships.

Regional players

• Qlic: Qlic is a Dutch IT services provider focused on education and healthcare with software licensing and managed services offerings. Comparable as a Dutch-based IT partner for education institutions, though broader in scope beyond pure licensing aggregation.

Others

• SLB Group: SLB is the Swedish/Nordic cooperative that licenses intellectual-property rights (notably performing rights) rather than software. It is thematically adjacent as a cooperative licensing intermediary rather than a direct competitor in education software.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SLBservices

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SLB services